Finally...Winterfest comes together!

[Roy Bedard]

I just got back from Winterfest in Mt Dora, Florida. After several unsuccessful attempts to run a Fest in Florida, I was so happy to see the "full house" that George promised. The Rec center was packed with students! There was a strong New England delegation and plenty of Southern folks all participating in the festival. One attendee came all the way from New Mexico to participate. What a great turn-out!

Living in Florida, I must say that it has been a frustrating experience trying to organize and launch a Winter event. I envisioned years ago that Winterfest would at some point outpace Summerfest in the numbers of attendees. It seemed natural to me that more people would want to head South in the Winter, then would would want to head north in the Summer. Oddly, though we have tried this event in several great cities like West Palm Beach and Orlando, the number of attendees has been, well, disappointing.

So, I want to thank everyone who made this past weekend a great success, and helped to create a southern slice of the Uechi-Ryu comraderie that we get every year at Summerfest. I look forward to continued growth in this event. We like to say down here that the "South will rise again", and if Winterfest is any indication...lookout.

Roy

[Bill Glasheen]

Roy

Thank you so much for posting about this important event.

You don't know how badly I wanted to go this year. But somehow it ends up being next-to-impossible for some of us. Last weekend for me was Chicago, and this week I present to an MD panel in Boston. So I had to pass this year.

Thanks so much for everything you and others do to keep this flame burning. As they say in Field of Dreams, build it and they will come. Keep up a tradition and I think it will evolve in numbers and perhaps to the right date so that it will be one of THE international Uechi events.

A few of my close buddies are a little mad at me for not making it this year, but I will try not to let them down with the tradition continuing.

My best to you, Roy, as always. Good luck with your career. Keep us posted on how things are going. I'm always interested in how people can take their martial expertise and turn it into a wonderful career. Yours is a story that needs to be told for all entrepreneurs and business professionals.

- Bill

[MikeK]

Congratulations Roy and GEM!

[chef]

Congrats, Roy and George...on a fantastic job. Hopefully, I can make it next year. I blew out my knee on Dec. 10, dislocating my knee and tearing the meniscus. I need surgery but will have to wait until my mother-in-law gets needed surgery first...I need to care for her.

Anyway, I had planned on trying to make it down, but it wasn't in the cards.

Hey, Roy, that's a very aesthetically pleasing photo of you.

I think we should consider a calendar as a fund raiser, titled "Boys of Uechi". It could go toward our Uechi organization to help with this commemorative camp this upcoming 2008 summer....and, Roy, you would be a shoe-in to pose for us...we would be honored.....woohoo!!!

We could do a guy's one and maybe a woman's one. I'm putting my order in now.

Let's see, who else should we include....hmmmmm???

Most definitely, Fedele...and maybe our Bill, shirts off guys since that wouldn't be indecent.

Who else, ladies?

Regards,
Vicki

[Rising Star]

Hi Roy and All

6 of the New England contingent arrived in Manchester NH early this afternoon and were greeted with..........snow!

I can say without hesitation that my students and Fedele and I thoroughly enjoyed our all too brief visit and all the fun at WinterFest.

Super stuff from George, Kimo and Roy!

I am also especially thankful to our Southwest Airlines pilot who brought us through all kinds of turbulence and landed us on an invisible runway without so much as a bump!

Look forward to seeing everyone this summer at the Cape!

All the best!

John

[chef]

So, John, what did you take back with you from Winter Fest?

Vicki

[Roy Bedard]

Bill, Sorry we missed you. You always have so much to offer -it would have been great if you could have made it.There is, as they say, always next year.

Thanks John for your notes. I am sorry you had to endure the return to the frigid North. Next year stay awhile. Lord knows our economy needs those extra tourist dollars . Mickey Mouse would have been happy to see you guys, and you know - Sunday was an amazing Sunny 68 degrees in Orlando.

And Vicki, Sorry to hear about your knee. Your comments were a first for me. A calendar huh? That wasn't quite the career goal I had planned for but, ok, if we you think can make some money at it...I'm in. I call June!

Roy

[Rising Star]

Hi Vicki

I guess the biggest thing that I brought back was a re-opening of my eyes on different ways to interpret and practice kata and forms. As I teacher I always am seeking out new ways to deliver and explain the core Uechi 'stuff'.

I find that anytime I attend an event such as this, although there are new concepts, sometimes the old brain cells get a jump start on things that I had already been exposed to but that had been buried under so much other stuff.

To get the mental blender involved and bring those past learnings to the top is very beneficial.

The other different, but equally important thing that I bring back is the pleasure of working with different uechika or the opportunity to work with someone that you perhaps haven't seen in a year or more. Practicing with someone new requires you to re-focus your attention on what you are doing and forces you to get outside of the comfort zone of working with the same people over and over.

Keeps everything fresh. Seeing palm trees and blooming flowers in the dead of winter doesn't hurt either! Nor does golfing in Shorts in January - not somethiing not often happening in North Central Massachusetts!..

John

[Rising Star]

Roy:

I know you said that your seminars at Summerfest would likley not include weapons training drills on the line of the two we did at Winterfest, but I do know that a lot of people enjoy them - myself included - so if your seminar schedule and time permits, I would respectfully ask that you reconsider that.!

Thanks

John

[Bill Glasheen]

I think we should consider a calendar as a fund raiser, titled "Boys of Uechi". It could go toward our Uechi organization to help with this commemorative camp this upcoming 2008 summer....and, Roy, you would be a shoe-in to pose for us...we would be honored.....woohoo!!!

We could do a guy's one and maybe a woman's one. I'm putting my order in now.

Let's see, who else should we include....hmmmmm???

Most definitely, Fedele...and maybe our Bill, shirts off guys ...

I've had time to think about this, Miss Vicki. I must say that I ... uh ... get a little uncomfortable being objectified like that.

However, I will do it if it's for a good cause. But... Fair is fair.

Methinks your calendar would raise more revenue.

- Bill

[Van Canna]

Congratulations

[harry]

Hi all,

Suzanne and I had a great time at Winterfest. We find the social events (organized by Susan) just as enjoyable as the training session. I also want to congratulate George Meki on his promotion to Sandan.

For those folks who want an idea of the event I can break them down into the following learning areas:

1. Qi Gong with Kimo Wall. Kimo introduced us to a version of Qi Gong which was relaxing got us ready for our day's workout. The shoulder exercises alone were worth the price of admission to this event.

2. Introduction to "Soft" Uechi-ryu, methodology and practice by George Mattson. Often a misunderstood concept, George presented his view of "soft" techniques. According to George, practicing "hard" is easy for most people while practicing "soft" is... difficult.

George led us through three levels of Sanchin and kata training explaining each level and how it should be practiced. This was followed by Kyu Kumite using "flinch" defensive techniques. After lunch we applied the "flinch" techniques to Dan Kumite and finally "soft" sparring.

3. Reality training with Roy Bedard. All I can say about Roy is "Boy can he put on a show!" I left with three take always from Roy's presentation.

a. If I ever get shot, (we won't talk about hunting trips with Dick Cheney) I will call Roy and ask permission to "move on."
b. I now know that I can lose a lot of blood and still kick butt.
c. I have learned a close quarter gun disarm technique.

We look forward to Summerfest and the next Winterfest.

Harry & Suzanne

[chef]

Thank you so much, Harry. You will have to share this at summer camp with us.

BTW, Sue and I miss you! Biker Bar again next year? Enjoyed the intense discussions on karate, life, and relationships with you....and the shooters too?

Regards,
Vicki

[chef]

A calendar would be great...doesn't have to be trashy. It could be some of our greats, doing what they do best....gi's on as option, no problem.

For instance, you gotta have Raffi with knives...or John Hassell with his Bo, etc.

We got some great people that would be great to have on a calendar. Heck, it can be humorous...can include two men drill stuff.

It could be great fun...you guys can go down in history and we can have some great pics for posterity.

Just an idea.

Vicki

[Roy Bedard]

I enjoyed working with you and Suzanne at the Winterfest. If you continue to argue with her about Global Warming, you probably should get my number on speed dial. You might get shot sooner than planned!

Thanks for joining us.


Roy